Bristol’s iconic Colston Hall music venue has officially launched an ambitious £45m refurbishment appeal to meet its aspirations to become an international centre of excellence.
Called Thank You for the Music, the appeal aims to end decades of under-investment in the venue, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2017. 
Despite a proud heritage of attracting some of the biggest names in entertainment over the past century and a half – from The Beatles, Bowie and Bob Dylan to Louis Armstrong and Rachmaninoff – the venue has lagged behind its counterparts in other cities.
A £20m extension and upgrade of parts of the building took place in 2009, which added a new showpiece foyer, staircase and bars, but the 2,075-seater auditorium has remained largely unchanged since re-opening after a devastating fire in the early 1950s.
That has resulted in a venue that has failed to keep pace with changes in the industry – and in Bristol itself, today’s launch heard.
Marti Burgess, a board member of Bristol Music Trust, which runs Colston Hall, welcomed local politicians and business leaders to the gathering by saying: “A lot has changed in Bristol over the last 60 years and it’s about time that the hall changed too.”
Trust chief executive Louise Mitchell, pictured, admitted £45m was an ambitious target but said it would secure the venue’s future for the next 150 years and put Bristol and the region back where they belong among the UK’s top cultural cities. 
“Across the country, all other major concert halls have been refurbished or new ones have been built,” she said.
“We are the only hall not to have been, which means our region is missing out.
“Currently it’s like stepping back in time as you go from our new foyer to our old building. This transformation will bring a much-needed concert hall of international standard to the city and region, whilst being a major national and regional centre for the development of artistic talent and enterprises.
“Throughout our history we have attracted some of the greatest names in music from across the world. It would probably be easier to list those who haven’t played here.”
Following the major refurbishment, Colston Hall would take its place among the best in the world, boasting international-class facilities, high-quality acoustics and sound technology and flexible seating, she said.
As well as renovating the main hall, the funding will finance a further upgrade of The Lantern – the small auditorium which once served as a bar and which now acts as a standing-only performance space.
It will also allow the historic cellars under the building to be opened up for public use for the first time in 100 years while the hall’s striking Bristol Byzantine façade will be returned to its original splendour. The work is expected to start in 2017 with the hall venue reopening two years later.
Funding is being sought from the Government and arts bodies as well as corporate partners and private individuals.
Communities minister and Bristol West MP Stephen Williams, pictured, who launched the appeal campaign, said that the Government owed it to the city to pay towards the upgrade.
“I will do my best to see that the Government puts money in," he said. "I remember being involved in the plans back in the 1990s to develop a £97m world-class concert hall at Harbourside, which became known as the exploding greenhouse because of its design.
“That would’ve been absolutely wonderful for Bristol. But the funding was taken away from us at the last minute. 
“It is critical that projects of this magnitude and significance for the development of the performing arts in this country are given the financial support they deserve. Colston Hall, which is close to my heart as it is in my constituency, will sustain our cultural infrastructure and reinforce our country’s position as an international capital for musical talent and development.”
“Moreover it will help create tomorrow’s generation of performers and entrepreneurs in the arts world through its focus on supporting education and enterprise.”
Jazz star Jamie Cullum, who grew up near Chippenham and who has played Colston Hall a number of times, added his voice to the campaign.
He said: “It’s a great venue with such an intimate environment and great connection with your audience. It’s good to hear they are planning to modernise the venue and to such a high standard.
“I’m also delighted that the new facility will be more than just an entertainment venue, and will nurture future talent through education and the development of businesses related to the performing arts.”
